IV low-dose ketamine versus IV morphine for treating children's sudden pain
Official title: Efficacy of intravenous sub-dissociative ketamine versus intravenous morphine in children with acute pain.
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11184435 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project compares low-dose IV ketamine and IV morphine to relieve sudden moderate-to-severe pain in children and teens who come to the emergency department.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $3,238,659 |
| NIH project number | 5U01HD116253-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11184435 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and teenagers who come to an enrolling emergency department with moderate-to-severe acute pain and who can safely receive IV analgesia are the ideal candidates for this project.
✕Less likely to help
Infants, people with known allergies or medical reasons not to receive ketamine or morphine, or those not eligible for IV treatment may not be able to participate or benefit from the results.
What this research studies
If your child comes to the emergency room with moderate-to-severe acute pain, they may be given either a low (sub-dissociative) dose of IV ketamine or IV morphine and then followed to see how well the pain is reduced and whether side effects occur. The study will track immediate pain relief, breathing and blood pressure safety measures, and short-term recovery after the ED visit. Investigators will also look at longer-term outcomes like ongoing pain, need for more pain medicines, and emotional effects such as anxiety or stress after the event. Care teams at participating emergency departments will follow a standardized plan so results can be compared across children enrolled in the trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a safer and effective alternative to morphine that reduces breathing or blood pressure problems and lowers opioid exposure in children.
How similar studies have gone: Low-dose IV ketamine has been shown to relieve acute pain safely in adults, but large head-to-head trials comparing it to morphine in children are limited, so this direct comparison is relatively new for pediatrics.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tsze, Daniel Sing-Kwong — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Tsze, Daniel Sing-Kwong
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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IV ketamine vs morphine for acute pain in children
A new comparison in kids with acute pain will test whether a low-dose IV ketamine works as well as IV morphine for pain relief and safety in the emergency department.
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This study is looking at whether a lower dose of ketamine can help kids in the emergency room feel better from pain compared to morphine, with the goal of finding a safer and more effective way to treat their pain.
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Ketamine-assisted care plan to help Veterans with chronic back pain and depression
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.